Why The Pandemic Mattered

In this episode of The Ways We Work, Host Joel Thomas interviews America Works Network of Companies CEO Dr. Lee Bowes about the company’s leadership during the early uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it changed workforce development. Dr. Bowes recounts tracking the emerging crisis as early as January 2020 and committing to keep staff employed and services running for clients despite conflicting public guidance. America Works rapidly created a detailed continuity policy that was adopted by New York City and other jurisdictions, shifted overnight to remote operations, launched remote job fairs, and supported staff and clients with resources like virtual wellness activities, food distribution, and providing tablets and laptops. 00:00 Pandemic Retrospective02:10 Early Warning Signs04:07 Commitment To Stay Open06:29 Remote Work Pivot07:42 Isolation And Morale10:22 Hard Calls On Accountability16:17 Supporting Clients Remotely21:27 Essential Work Divide23:38 Zoom Space Tethers25:52 Remote Work New Normal30:53 Training Goes Hybrid31:49 Barriers to Remote Jobs35:33 Caregiving and Pharm Tech38:07 AI Fears and Reality41:49 Leading Through Crises46:55 Concluding Thoughts